The Townsville branch of the Society for Growing Australian Plants was formed on 25th June, 1970 with assistance from the Townsville Branch of the Australasian Native Orchid Society. Seventeen members joined. The first office bearers were:
Chairman: Mr. John Donohue
Secretary: Mr. Arthur Chapman
Hon. Treasurer: Mr. B. E. Slee
Branch Projects
1984: Hosted the Queensland State Conference followed by a field trip to the Burra Range.
1987 to 1990: Planned and planted a Lowland Rainforest plot in Anderson Park in conjunction with Townsville City Council.
1989: Hosted a Northern Branches Get-together at Paluma.
1990: The Branch became Incorporated.
1993: Dr. Betsy Jackes conducted a week-end version of her Rainforest Identification Course at Paluma for SGAP members.
1993 to 1994: Planted in Mountview Park in conjunction with Thuringowa City Council.
1998: Hosted the Queensland State Conference followed by a field trip to the Burra Range.
Branch publications
1972: A 26 page booklet “Native Plants for the Townsville Area”
1975: “Australian Plants for Townsville”, a 96 page publication which was produced by a committee of Townsville members in conjunction with the Australian Plants journal and printed as issues of that journal.
1984: Conference Papers for Qld Regional Conference, Townsville.
1987: “Gardening in the Dry Tropics”, a 248 page book giving gardening hints and describing 400 plants. Compiled by Leigh Weakley and printed with financial assistance by way of a loan from Queensland Region.
1988: “Quick Reference Guide to Australian Plants for North Queensland Gardens”. A 16 page booklet compiled by Keith Townsend.
1989: “A Selection of Australian Plants for North Queensland Gardens”. A 10 page booklet.
1990: “Growing Australian”. A 26 page booklet which reproduced a selection of articles which were written for “Blue’s Country Magazine”. Compiled by Keith Townsend.
1992: “Quick Reference Guide to Australian Plants for the Tropics”. A 26 page booklet compiled by Keith Townsend.
1994: “Across the Top”, a 416 page book containing locally written gardening notes and describing over 1400 tropical plants, both wetland and dryland. Compiled by Keith Townsend and printed with financial assistance by way of a loan from Queensland Region.
1997: “Field Guide to Plants of the Dry Tropics”, a full colour production of 192 pages assisting with identification of 166 species. Compiled by Keith Townsend and printed with financial assistance by way of a loan from Queensland Region.
1998: Conference Papers for Qld. Region Conference, Townsville ‘Tropical Diversity’
2007: Reprint of “Field Guide to Plants of the Dry Tropics” Printed using Branch funds.
2008: Fully Revised Edition of “Across the Top”. A book of 358 pages containing a number of additional plant descriptions and all taxonomy updated to the latest Qld Herbarium records. Printed using Branch funds.
Branch Life Members
1977: John Donohue was made an Honorary Life Member.
1985: bob Reid and Rhonda Reid were made Honorary Life Members.
2003: Keith Townsend was made an Honorary Life Member.
